Configuration Guide

This document is a guide for creating a new configuration for TFT35 and TFT57 displays. In this
guide the term configuration means a set of files that will be stored in the memory card of the
device. Below are the main steps of creating the configuration:

1. Create floor marking (numbers) and arrow images.

2. Create background images and videos.
3. Use the Configurator application to save images, videos and the configuration file to the
memory card.
4. Insert the memory card into device. The display will now start showing images and videos
stored in the memory card according to the configuration file.

Image files can be created with any image editing software such as MS Paint, Paint.NET or Adobe
Photoshop. Videos can be converted to the correct format with any suitable video editing software.

Floor marking and arrow images requirements:

• file format: PNG or BMP*
• max resolution: 320x240
• max number of simultaneously displayed colors: 4*
* BMP and PNG images must be converted to the device supported format by the Configurator
application.
* The Configurator will automatically reduce colors in images. User doesn’t need to worry
about this parameter.

Background images requirements:

• file format: JPEG
• aspect ratio: 4:3
• min resolution: 320x240
• max resolution: 2560x1920*
* Recommended resolution for background images is QVGA (320x240). The display will
automatically resize higher resolution images down to QVGA.

Video files requirements:

• file format: AVI
• compression format (codec): MJPEG
• resolution: 320x240
• max bitrate: 5000 kbit/s
* User can convert existing videos to necessary format with any suitable video editing software.
E.g. program called MediaCoder is free and easy to use video converter that supports many
different file formats and codecs. http://www.mediacoderhq.com/
 Creating Content
While creating configuration for the first time, it is good practice to make some sensible directory
structure for the content files. Below is an example of such structure:

Windows hides filename extensions by default (e.g. .bmp .png .jpg .avi …). We recommend to
disable this feature for easier file management.

Click on the Start button and then on My Computer.

Click the Tools menu and then select the Folder Options... menu entry.
Click on the View tab.
Uncheck the option to Hide extensions for known file types.

Click the OK button to save your settings and close the Folder Options window.
Creating Floor Marking Images
The term Floor Marking Images is used in this guide for all images that somehow describe the floor
of the building. Normally these images contain numbers, but certainly any other sign can be used in
the image. Images can be created with any image editing software. The application called
Paint.NET is used in this guide that is free and easy to use image editor.

Start creating image by selecting File New

Set width and height of the new image. We will create an image sized 128x200 pixels in this
example, but any dimension up to 320x240 can be used. Leave other options on their default values.

Select Text tool from the toolbar and choose necessary text color.

Choose the font, size and style of the text. We are using 200 pixel high bolded Arial font in this
example.
Place the cursor on the drawing area and type a number. Drag the number to the center of the
image. If number doesn’t fit the image, try to reduce font size. However, it is recommended to use
the biggest font size, which fits the image.

At this point you can try different color and style combinations. E.g. if you want the number to look
semi-transparent, select Percent 50 in Fill menu.

When you are satisfied with all settings, save the image by selecting File Save As. Save the image
as PNG file to the directory where all other number images are located. We are using directory
../TFTstuff/fonts/arial/128x200/ in this example and the file name is 0.png.

Repeat these steps for other number images. You need to create numbers from 0 to 9. File names
must be <number>.png style (e.g. 0.png, 1.png, 5.png …).

Floor marking image doesn’t necessarily have to be a number. It can also contain some other sign.
E.g. parking sign can be shown on the floor where the car parking is located. These images can be
created the same way as number images. Any file names can be used for these images.
Creating Arrow Images
Arrow images can be created generally the same way as the floor marking images. Start creating
image by selecting File New.

Set width and height of the new image. We will create an image sized 128x120 pixels in this
example, but any dimension up to 320x240 can be used. Leave other options on their default values.

Select Line or Pencil tool from the toolbar and choose the color.

Choose brush width and style. It’s better to disable antialiasing before starting drawing the arrow.
Below is an example of how arrows may look like.

When the arrow is ready, save it to the directory where other arrow images are located. We are
using directory ../TFTstuff/arrows/ in this example. File names must be up.png, down.png and
updown.png.

Creating Background Images

User doesn’t really need to create background images. Any JPEG image can be used as a
background. E.g. user can take a photo with a digital camera or copy the image from the Internet
and use it as a background. When using content from the Internet, always remember to check if it’s
copyrighted.

Recommended resolution for the background image is 320x240. Larger images can be resized with
the Configurator application.

Creating Background Videos

This guide assumes that user has some video material on his/her computer that he/she wants to use
as a background. Video file can be e.g. from user’s digital video camera or it can be downloaded
from the Internet. This video must be converted to the device (display) supported format.

Here we are using video downloaded from a popular video-sharing website youtube.com. The file
format of this video is mp4 and it's packed with H264 video codec. Resolution of the video is
1280x720 pix. We need to convert this video to the AVI file format and pack it with MJPEG video
codec. Resolution of the video must be QVGA (320x240).

Conversion can be done with any suitable video editing software that supports these formats and
codecs. We are using application called MediaCoder in this example, which is free and easy to use
video converter. It supports many different file formats and codecs. Application can be downloaded
from http://www.mediacoderhq.com/.

Start MediaCodec application and add the video file to it. If the file is added successfully, you can
see its information on the right side of the window.
Select Video tab and choose Motion JPEG for the Format.
Set other settings as on the picture below.

The higher bitrate – the better is video quality. Recommended bitrate is about 2500 Kbps. It isn’t
necessary to use higher bitrate than 5000 Kbps.

Select Audio tab and uncheck Enabled checkbox, as we don’t need any audio.

Select Container tab and choose AVI for the Container. Set other settings as on the picture below.
Select Picture tab. Set Resize and Global checkboxes and set picture resolution to 320x240. Since
original video is 16:9 and final video will be 4:3, we need to crop it. Press Cropper button and new
window will open. The preview of the cropped video is shown in this window. Application will
automatically choose sensible cropping parameters. Press the Done button.

Set other settings as on the picture below.

If you don’t want to convert the whole video, but only part of it, choose the Time tab. Set start and
end time positions of the part you want to convert.

Set the Output Folder where converted file will be saved. Converted file will have the same file
name as the original one, but with .avi extension.

Now the Summary tab should look something like this. Estimated file size depends on the video
length and its bitrate.
When all settings are done, the video conversion can be started by pressing START button. When
conversion is completed, a new video file should appear in the output directory. At this point it’s
good to check that the video looks correct by playing it with any suitable media player. We
recommend to use VLC media player ( http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ ).

It is also good to check codec and resolution of the new video.

In VLC, select Tools Media Information Codec Details
Parameters should look something like this:
 ElevatorTFT Configurator

1 2 3 4

9 6

10
Graphic interface
11 12 13

1. Selection of the floor marking images. If the opened file is named 0 – 9.bmp the application
searches for other number images in the same directory and automatically form double digit
numbers (>=10) from them.
2. Selection of the arrow images. Images can be in BMP format and their names must be
up.bmp, down.bmp and updown.bmp.
3. Background image and video selection. Images can be in JPEG format and videos in AVI
format.
4. Enable/disable animation of the arrows and scroll speed selection.
5. Enable/disable playlist mode. In playlist mode background images and videos are showed
independently of the floor.
6. Playlist. Files can be added to the playlist by selecting the background image (3). A new file
will be added to the end of the list. The order of the files can be changed by dragging them
with the mouse. Files can be deleted by pressing right mouse button on them.
7. Floor marking image. The position of the image can be changed by pressing the left mouse
button on the screen area.
8. Arrow image. The position of the image can be changed by pressing the right mouse button
on the screen area. Every arrow (up, down and double) have it’s own position.
9. Current floor.
10. Max number of floors.
11. Floor marking and arrow images must be converted to a special format so that the device
can show them. By pressing this button application converts images and saves them to the
user selected directory (e.g. memory card).
12. Copies background images and videos to the user selected directory (e.g. memory card). If
the playlist mode is selected, all files in the playlist will be copied, otherwise only images
that are set to different floors will be copied.
13. Generates and saves configuration file (config.txt).
Setting Background Images

Press the browse button (…) on the Background line.

Select background image file for the current floor.

Background image is now set for the current floor.

Change the current floor by pressing UP or DOWN button.
By default the image for this floor will be the same as for the previous floor.
Another image can be selected by pressing the browse button (…) again.

Alternatively the playlist mode can be enabled by selecting Playlist mode checkbox. In the playlist
mode the background images and videos are showed independently of the floor. To add files to the
playlist press browse button (…) on the Background line and select an image or a video file.

A new file will be added to the end of the list. The order of the files can be changed by dragging
them with the mouse.

Files can be deleted by pressing right mouse button on them. The duration of the file showing can
be adjusted by the sec/file spinbox value. Videos will be always played to the end regardless of this
parameter.
Setting Arrow Images
Press the browse button (…) on the Enable arrows line.

Select one of the arrow image files (e.g. up.bmp).

Files must be named up.bmp, down.bmp and updown.bmp.

The selected arrow image is now showed on the screen. The position of the arrow can be changed
by pressing right mouse button on the screen area.
Select another arrow image (e.g. down.bmp) from the same directory as the previous one.

The position of this arrow can also be changed by pressing the right mouse button on the screen
area. Every arrow (up, down and double) have it’s own position.

Finally select double arrow (updown.bmp) from the same directory as the previous ones.
Double arrow is now showed on the screen.

Arrows animation can be enabled by selecting the Animate checkbox. UP arrow will be scrolling
up and DOWN arrow will be scrolling down. Scroll speed can be adjusted by changing the ms/line
spinbox value. Only UP and DOWN arrows can be animated. It’s not recommended to change the
position of the arrow while animation is enabled. User can disable animation, change position of the
arrow and then enable animation again.
Setting Floor Marking Images
Press the browse button (…) on the Enable signs line.

Browse to the directory where floor marking images are located and select the file that matches the
current floor. E.g. if the current floor is 0, select the file 0.bmp.

The selected image is now showed on the screen. The position of the image can be changed by
pressing left mouse button on the screen area. Change the current floor by pressing UP or DOWN
button.
The application will search for other images (0 – 9.bmp) in the current directory and automatically
set them for the right floors. Double digit numbers are also formed automatically. There’s no need
to select number images manually for every floor.

User can also set custom sign image manually for every floor. E.g. there can be parking sign on the
lowest floor. To set the custom image press the browse button (…) on the Enable signs line and
select the custom image file. File can be with any filename and in any directory, not necessary in
the same as other number images.

The custom sign is now showed on the screen. The custom sign images for other floors can be
added the same way.
Finishing configuration
Before saving the files to the memory card the user should check that configurations for all floors
are correct.

1. Check first that maximum number of floors is set to correct value.

2. Walk through all the floors and check if every floor has the correct background and floor
marking image.
3. Check if all arrows positions are set correctly by opening different arrow images.
4. If arrow animation is enabled check if the scrolling speed is correct.
5. If playlist mode is enabled check if the duration of the file showing is set correctly.

Press Convert sign & arrow images button to convert and save these images e.g. to the memory
card or any other directory.

Converted sign and arrow images will appear in the selected directory. All the files will have .cur
extension.

Press Copy background images & videos and select a directory where background images and
videos should be saved, e.g. memory card. If playlist mode is selected, all files in the playlist will be
copied, otherwise only images that are set to different floors will be copied.

When copying background images, the application will automatically check their resolution. If
resolution is other then QVGA (320x240), application suggests resizing image to QVGA resolution.
Since this is the recommended resolution, it’s good to select Yes to All at this point.
Finally press Save config file button and select directory where the configuration file should be
saved. The configuration file must be named config.txt. The file can be edited manually in any text
editor like notepad.

Examples of the configuration file (left: playlist mode, right: normal mode)